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A Flower Shop Mystery #2
Slay It with Flowers
Me, Abby Knight, an entrepreneur! Who would have guessed when I flunked out of law school a year ago that I'd be standing here today in front of Bloomers, my very own flower shop? Even though I may be penniless, I am soundly devoted to my new profession...whether it means arranging a bouquet of flowers - or unearthing the seeds of murder.
NEAR MRS.
Abby's latest gig is the perfect marriage of her talents. Not only does her bride-to-be cousin, Jillian, want Abby to be a bridesmaid - she also wants her to sign on as floral designer and sleuth...
Though nearly once a year Jillian has agreed to marry a different man, she has yet to make it to the altar. But this time, it's cold dead feet may stop the wedding. Before the couple says "I do," one of the groomsmen disappears and another member of the wedding party is found dead. Luckily for Abby, she has plenty of help - including her brassy been-there-done-that assistant, a hunky bar owner with a penchant for love and justice, and her own family. Together, they aim to unveil the truth...and make sure the bride still gets her day to shine.
NEAR MRS.
Abby's latest gig is the perfect marriage of her talents. Not only does her bride-to-be cousin, Jillian, want Abby to be a bridesmaid - she also wants her to sign on as floral designer and sleuth...
Though nearly once a year Jillian has agreed to marry a different man, she has yet to make it to the altar. But this time, it's cold dead feet may stop the wedding. Before the couple says "I do," one of the groomsmen disappears and another member of the wedding party is found dead. Luckily for Abby, she has plenty of help - including her brassy been-there-done-that assistant, a hunky bar owner with a penchant for love and justice, and her own family. Together, they aim to unveil the truth...and make sure the bride still gets her day to shine.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
57 people are currently reading
1241 people want to read
About the author
Kate Collins
64books941followersIndiana native and former teacher Kate Collins is the author of the New York Times best-selling Flower Shop Mysteries, featuring feisty florist Abby Knight and the zany crew at Bloomers. Her books have made the New York Times Best-seller's list, Barnes & Noble mass bestsellers lists, the Independent Booksellers lists, and are available in large print editions in the U.S. and the UK.
3 of The Flower Shop Mysteries are on the Hallmark Mystery Movie channel!
Kate's historical romance novels and her children's books, JANEY WEBSTER, EB*, *EXPERIENCED BABYSITTER, and JASON JERVISS AT YOUR SERVICE, are available now as ebooks in all formats. Great reads for ages 9-14.
Kate graduated from Purdue University with a master's degree in education, taught elementary school for six years, but after the birth of her first child, gave up teaching to pursue a long-time dream of putting children’s stories to paper. After writing short humorous stories for children’s magazines and working part-time as a legal secretary, she sold her first historical romance novel in 1995, publishing seven historical romantic suspenses under the pen name Linda O’Brien before turning to her true love, mysteries.
3 of The Flower Shop Mysteries are on the Hallmark Mystery Movie channel!
Kate's historical romance novels and her children's books, JANEY WEBSTER, EB*, *EXPERIENCED BABYSITTER, and JASON JERVISS AT YOUR SERVICE, are available now as ebooks in all formats. Great reads for ages 9-14.
Kate graduated from Purdue University with a master's degree in education, taught elementary school for six years, but after the birth of her first child, gave up teaching to pursue a long-time dream of putting children’s stories to paper. After writing short humorous stories for children’s magazines and working part-time as a legal secretary, she sold her first historical romance novel in 1995, publishing seven historical romantic suspenses under the pen name Linda O’Brien before turning to her true love, mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
June 17, 2018
A more than promising beginning leading to a tempered middle and a nefarious end. That's how I sum up the essence of this book. Something undefinable took me out of the story. I could see how the author began this book. She had the idea of the plot lacing elements with the subplot.
The actual execution lacked punch (no pun) and it was obvious that the author ran out of steam midway. There was no concealed villain working in the shadows, plotting intricately. The murder revolves round a cruel but big fat dumb slave ring cartel.
This book also had the distinction of being the first murder mystery where the killer left prints on the weapon. And still the police and the FBI couldn't do anything. I needn't say more. But I will. This book is stupid.
The actual execution lacked punch (no pun) and it was obvious that the author ran out of steam midway. There was no concealed villain working in the shadows, plotting intricately. The murder revolves round a cruel but big fat dumb slave ring cartel.
This book also had the distinction of being the first murder mystery where the killer left prints on the weapon. And still the police and the FBI couldn't do anything. I needn't say more. But I will. This book is stupid.
July 7, 2015
I liked this book much better than the first, but I do have one big gripe with it: the use of the word Oriental used to describe a person. In 1995, I was told by an Asian-American woman, "Oriental is a rug, not a person. We are Asian." This book was written 10 years later, so clearly this misconception should have been cleared up, and reading it 20 years after being told about this, I found it outdated. Again, I liked the story a lot, but this was off-putting. I hope the author reads this and learns for the future (if she hasn't already).
January 8, 2017
Review of the audiobook.
I don't usually give cozy mysteries a 1 star rating but this year, I'm trying to be more consistent in my reviews/rating so here we are. This book actually gave me a visceral reaction - I disliked it that much. I just felt like Abby knowingly does really really stupid things while ignoring the people who care about her and it got old in this one.
I also was a little taken aback by the romance between her and Marco. I thought it wasn't developed all that much and then all of a sudden there are heated looks, etc passing between them and I had to make sure that this was book two - just in case I read them out of order and missed a few books.
Finally, a bit part of the meddling was based around a new massage parlor in town and the belief that it was a front for prostitution. I don't know why but I just hated the way they talked about it and got so suspicious because the women working there were Asian/Chinese. It just struck me wrong.
Overall, this book just didn't give me any happy, cozy mystery feelings. It just made me annoyed and confused.
I don't usually give cozy mysteries a 1 star rating but this year, I'm trying to be more consistent in my reviews/rating so here we are. This book actually gave me a visceral reaction - I disliked it that much. I just felt like Abby knowingly does really really stupid things while ignoring the people who care about her and it got old in this one.
I also was a little taken aback by the romance between her and Marco. I thought it wasn't developed all that much and then all of a sudden there are heated looks, etc passing between them and I had to make sure that this was book two - just in case I read them out of order and missed a few books.
Finally, a bit part of the meddling was based around a new massage parlor in town and the belief that it was a front for prostitution. I don't know why but I just hated the way they talked about it and got so suspicious because the women working there were Asian/Chinese. It just struck me wrong.
Overall, this book just didn't give me any happy, cozy mystery feelings. It just made me annoyed and confused.
March 30, 2015
I shouldn't rate this so low because I read it after reading a book that was heavier in content and the characters weren't so, how should I say this, obnoxious.
Come on! Cozy doesn't mean stupid and silly.
I like to have fun just as much as the next person. But if a building is on fire, I know not to enter said building. Even Admiral Ackbar knew to turn away when he got to the Death Star and saw the Imperial forces waiting for him.
Abby meddles to the point where she needs to be in jail. Why doesn't Marco encourage her to get a P.I. license instead of encouraging her to think like a P.I. then slap her wrist when she goes too far?
To make matters worse, Abby's annoying cousin still isn't married by the end of this book. That means there's another book featuring Jillian. Should I bother with the next book?
Come on! Cozy doesn't mean stupid and silly.
I like to have fun just as much as the next person. But if a building is on fire, I know not to enter said building. Even Admiral Ackbar knew to turn away when he got to the Death Star and saw the Imperial forces waiting for him.
Abby meddles to the point where she needs to be in jail. Why doesn't Marco encourage her to get a P.I. license instead of encouraging her to think like a P.I. then slap her wrist when she goes too far?
To make matters worse, Abby's annoying cousin still isn't married by the end of this book. That means there's another book featuring Jillian. Should I bother with the next book?
June 10, 2018
I wanted to like this book, but was turned off by the stereotypes about Chinese people. I enjoyed the first book in the series and like the lighthearted antics of the main character, a young, smart-talking florist and amateur detective, who is in love with a sexy private detective. Both happen to be white.
But in this book, the stereotypes bothered me: from what I remember, Chinese characters worked in only three places: Chinese restaurants, as prostitutes in a massage parlor or as members of a Chinese mafia. The book did not include any Chinese characters like the ones I know and work with: doctors, scientists, and upstanding business people.
Worst, SPOILER ALERT, was a scene when one of the characters talks about Chinese children, girls under 17, who were kidnapped and brought to the U.S. to be sex slaves. These children were the victims of kidnapping, rape and human trafficking. The character says the children should be deported. I would hope that some compassion would be shown while authorities figured out how to reunite children and parents, or whether the children had a safe place to go.
The book ends with a white person imitating a Chinese person's accent.
But in this book, the stereotypes bothered me: from what I remember, Chinese characters worked in only three places: Chinese restaurants, as prostitutes in a massage parlor or as members of a Chinese mafia. The book did not include any Chinese characters like the ones I know and work with: doctors, scientists, and upstanding business people.
Worst, SPOILER ALERT, was a scene when one of the characters talks about Chinese children, girls under 17, who were kidnapped and brought to the U.S. to be sex slaves. These children were the victims of kidnapping, rape and human trafficking. The character says the children should be deported. I would hope that some compassion would be shown while authorities figured out how to reunite children and parents, or whether the children had a safe place to go.
The book ends with a white person imitating a Chinese person's accent.
July 1, 2016
I sometimes read the books in this series as a mindless distraction and usually find them somewhat entertaining. This one was racist. It kept referring to people of Asian decent as "oriental" and switched the R and L in their dialogues. Not cool.
October 28, 2020
I have got to say this is one of the best cozy mystery series that I have read. I really like Abby and her gang. Great story and interesting plot. I like how he story is intricately woven
March 25, 2021
First of all, this is not my kind of book. I never read cozy mysteries and am only doing so because my mom loved the series & I want to read the entire thing for her.
With that out of the way, I did enjoy the first book but I was not a fan of this one at all. It was racist & stereotypical. "Oriental" was used so much it had my head spinning. The stereotypes really bothered me. Chinese characters worked in only three places: Chinese restaurants, as prostitutes in a massage parlor or as members of a Chinese mafia. It was also very negative toward sex workers & it is revealed in the end that the women working in the massage parlor were underage girls that have been sold/abducted. The main characters encourage the idea of these girls being deported & have 0 sympathy for them. The book ends with the main character (a white woman) saying "wong numba" in a Chinese accent. ICK. I did not like this at all.
With that out of the way, I did enjoy the first book but I was not a fan of this one at all. It was racist & stereotypical. "Oriental" was used so much it had my head spinning. The stereotypes really bothered me. Chinese characters worked in only three places: Chinese restaurants, as prostitutes in a massage parlor or as members of a Chinese mafia. It was also very negative toward sex workers & it is revealed in the end that the women working in the massage parlor were underage girls that have been sold/abducted. The main characters encourage the idea of these girls being deported & have 0 sympathy for them. The book ends with the main character (a white woman) saying "wong numba" in a Chinese accent. ICK. I did not like this at all.
November 12, 2010
Abby really doesn't have the sense that God gave little green apples. I found this charming in the first book of the Flower Shop Mystery series, but after reading Slay it With Flowers, I find her lack of sense to be a bit tiresome. The climax of the book is driven forward solely by her stupidity.
But I already have the third book on the way, so maybe it will redeem my opinion of Abby. Despite Abby's near-fatal lack of sense, I do enjoy the other characters in the book. Especially Marco, and Simon the cat. :)
But I already have the third book on the way, so maybe it will redeem my opinion of Abby. Despite Abby's near-fatal lack of sense, I do enjoy the other characters in the book. Especially Marco, and Simon the cat. :)
December 10, 2016
Slay it with Flowers was the second book in the Flower Shop mysteries and it was pretty interesting. I think I like that it's so totally different than the Hallmark version because reading/listening is like getting something totally different. I do have to be honest and say I think I like the Marco on the TV movies more than in the book, but he is starting to grow on me. :)
Abby Knight, a former lawyer, now flower shop owner has been asked to be a bridesmaid by her cousin. She is also supplying the flowers and it's a lot of flowers so she needs this wedding to happen. So when one of the groomsmen turns up dead, and another is accused of the murder, her cousin ask her to step in.
Marco wants her to leave things to the police but Abby can't just leave things alone especially when her cousin asked for her help and Abby really needs the wedding to happen. Things get a little dicy at the end when she finally figures out what happens.
I like Abby, I think it takes a lot of courage to leave a very lucrative career and buy a flower shop because it's something you really enjoy. It's not as secure money wise but she loves what she is doing. She has a great group of friends to help her out, among them the former owner. Marco owns a bar and grill in town and use to be a cop turned private detective and he has his hands full trying to keep Abby out of trouble. They start getting a little cozy in this one. ;)
It has a good mystery and I didn't figure it out until the end which is how I like them. It has great characters and I am really enjoying this series.
Abby Knight, a former lawyer, now flower shop owner has been asked to be a bridesmaid by her cousin. She is also supplying the flowers and it's a lot of flowers so she needs this wedding to happen. So when one of the groomsmen turns up dead, and another is accused of the murder, her cousin ask her to step in.
Marco wants her to leave things to the police but Abby can't just leave things alone especially when her cousin asked for her help and Abby really needs the wedding to happen. Things get a little dicy at the end when she finally figures out what happens.
I like Abby, I think it takes a lot of courage to leave a very lucrative career and buy a flower shop because it's something you really enjoy. It's not as secure money wise but she loves what she is doing. She has a great group of friends to help her out, among them the former owner. Marco owns a bar and grill in town and use to be a cop turned private detective and he has his hands full trying to keep Abby out of trouble. They start getting a little cozy in this one. ;)
It has a good mystery and I didn't figure it out until the end which is how I like them. It has great characters and I am really enjoying this series.
April 30, 2020
The racism is awful. Oriental, racist and sexist stereotypes, a shallow and insulting version of sex trafficking and sex work - I mean Passion Flower? I cringed at the first and thought maybe she’s going to show how the heroine learns something new but it got worse. And the presumably Spanish-speaker accent added in just for fun. Awful insulting book with a bad mystery (who takes a month holiday for a destination wedding, the mystification of everyone that sex work exists in their idyllic town - especially by cops!) Oh and quoting Margaret Thatcher to a Brit. Clueless, sexist and racist. So racist.
March 27, 2013
Terrible, terrible book. I'm embarrassed to say I read it. If I could give it no stars, I would. I'm keeping it on my list to make sure I don't accidentally pick it up again or anything else by this author.
June 11, 2022
Abby Knight is a bridesmaid in her cousin Jillian's upcoming wedding along with providing the flowers. The wedding is in jeopardy when one groomsman disappears and another is murdered. Jillian asks Abby to help find the killer. This is the second book in this series. I was surprised that this book starts two days after the last one, there is a limit to my suspension of disbelief in how many murders a flower shop owner can be involved in over a limited amount of time. I like Abby and most of the other characters, though Jillian is annoying. I also like the developing relationship between Abby and local bar owner Marco. I do plan on continuing the series.
June 12, 2021
I don't think this is my favorite cozy series. I love the relationship that is forming between Marco and Abby, but I don't love the actual storylines of the mysteries. In this particular story, Jillian annoyed me to no end. And I did not love the storyline with the massage parlor. I don't know that I will continue with the series. Maybe, maybe not????
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2020
Kinda cute.
October 11, 2021
Love this storyline. It’s a lot of fun and so is Abby.
March 23, 2024
Nice little cozy mystery
July 16, 2019
This book is better than the first installment of the series, . That is not saying a lot, true, but it's the best part of it.
Once again, the main character and, as we're reminded over and over again, 'meddler' is just too stupid to live. How on earth she has managed to live long enough to even be in this series is astounding. She makes decisions that make zero sense, she's annoying, and she is rude for no reason other than some failed attempt by the author to make her seem 'spunky'.
Once again, the side characters make this book palpable. I'm, frankly, much more interested in the love interest and the other women in the main character's life than I would ever be her.
What really makes this book, though, is the racism. Ah, yes. The early 2000s were a wild time, but even then I think an editor should have nixed the 'Chinese person speaking English Mickey Rooney style' thing. There is no need to write out an accent that can be simply mentioned, especially if doing so has you writing 'prease'. Yes. This happens. Multiple times.
Look, I'm not expecting the great American novel, here. But perhaps the author should stop trying to make race a thing in her books, because unless she got woke real bad in later years, she is terrible at it. Just write a mystery. No need to throw in caricatures of a culture you don't understand.
Was this book worth it? Eh. I wish we got a lot more of the love interest because he's actually intriguing as a character. I also wish the main character would do more than ogle his body every time they're together. Or doing stupid stuff just to seem 'quirky' and try to pitch her as independent when literally everything has her running to a man. As I said earlier, the side characters are actually interesting, and I do detect a little improvement from the first one. However, due to the really bad writing regarding the Chinese characters in the book, I'm gonna have to say skip this one. You won't miss much.
Once again, the main character and, as we're reminded over and over again, 'meddler' is just too stupid to live. How on earth she has managed to live long enough to even be in this series is astounding. She makes decisions that make zero sense, she's annoying, and she is rude for no reason other than some failed attempt by the author to make her seem 'spunky'.
Once again, the side characters make this book palpable. I'm, frankly, much more interested in the love interest and the other women in the main character's life than I would ever be her.
What really makes this book, though, is the racism. Ah, yes. The early 2000s were a wild time, but even then I think an editor should have nixed the 'Chinese person speaking English Mickey Rooney style' thing. There is no need to write out an accent that can be simply mentioned, especially if doing so has you writing 'prease'. Yes. This happens. Multiple times.
Look, I'm not expecting the great American novel, here. But perhaps the author should stop trying to make race a thing in her books, because unless she got woke real bad in later years, she is terrible at it. Just write a mystery. No need to throw in caricatures of a culture you don't understand.
Was this book worth it? Eh. I wish we got a lot more of the love interest because he's actually intriguing as a character. I also wish the main character would do more than ogle his body every time they're together. Or doing stupid stuff just to seem 'quirky' and try to pitch her as independent when literally everything has her running to a man. As I said earlier, the side characters are actually interesting, and I do detect a little improvement from the first one. However, due to the really bad writing regarding the Chinese characters in the book, I'm gonna have to say skip this one. You won't miss much.
May 16, 2015
Wow, the first book was simply okay, but this book was stellar. It was action-filled and left me wanting more!
I really liked Abby a whole lot more than in the first book, she seemed more real and smarter in this one. Her mother was still slightly annoying, but a lot less so than in the first book.
The mystery, however, was the star of this book. From foreign scandals to mysterious massage parlors it all was scattered in the beginning but fit together nicely in the end. I wasn't really surprised with the killer, but by the time you find out who the killer is a lot of other secrets have been exposed.
Overall a great book, I'll be reading the next one soon!
I really liked Abby a whole lot more than in the first book, she seemed more real and smarter in this one. Her mother was still slightly annoying, but a lot less so than in the first book.
The mystery, however, was the star of this book. From foreign scandals to mysterious massage parlors it all was scattered in the beginning but fit together nicely in the end. I wasn't really surprised with the killer, but by the time you find out who the killer is a lot of other secrets have been exposed.
Overall a great book, I'll be reading the next one soon!
July 22, 2012
I had forgotten about this series until I went to my tbr list to see which books had been on the longest. "A flower shop mystery" was one of the first I had added to my GR's account. It was about time I read the second in the series. This story was fun, witty and best of entertaining. The heroine's family members are crazy, her friends are concerned, and the police just wish she would stay in her flower shop. There's mystery, romance (slight), and laughter. I will look forward to reading the next in the series.
July 1, 2012
A cute little cozy. Abby is a typical cozy heroine, in a way; too nosy for her own good; too impetuous and reckless for her own good. Almost TSTL. However, there is something about her I like, so I am patient with her and have a tendency to forgive her foolishness (and yes, stupidity).
I think it’s her and her SO, Marco (though he’s only a possible love interest in this book), that keeps me coming back. It’s certainly not her detective “skills�. She’s a bit too foolish for me to admire that.
Yet it is a quick, light, fun summer read.
I think it’s her and her SO, Marco (though he’s only a possible love interest in this book), that keeps me coming back. It’s certainly not her detective “skills�. She’s a bit too foolish for me to admire that.
Yet it is a quick, light, fun summer read.
February 7, 2011
I liked this book more than the first - but still find the constant admonition from all the other characters to "stop meddling" really annoying. Makes me feel like I'm cheering on the local busybody (who is usually the victim of cozies, not the protagonist). Still, I did enjoy this one more and I'm ready to start the third after a short break.
November 26, 2020
Abby is at it again... her meddling causes trouble, and Marco is there to help her throughit. A great cast of characters in an enchanting local, it's a superb continuation in the Flower Shop Mysteries!
March 23, 2021
The main character, Abby Knight, is the reason I will keep coming back to this series as many times as necessary until I finish it. She is absolutely delightful. There's just no other way to describe her. She complaints about being short and well endowed, But she is tall in myriad other ways. especially for her character is concerned.
In book 2 of the series, Abby notices there is a new business in town. It seems to be a strange place, since its sign doesn't give much information about it. She assumes it's some kind of massage parlor. But she has no way of really knowing for sure until she hears some gossip about it at the local diner.
The massage parlor is mostly a low priority for Abby for now. She has to get through her horrifically high-maintenance cousin's wedding. The woman has abandoned several weddings previous to this, and Abby needs this one to happen, since she has already invested her money in flowers designed to decorate the ceremony. If it doesn't happen, Abby's investment goes bad, and she can't afford that.
And it looks like the wedding will be canceled Someone murders one of the groomsmen, and rumor had it he had been seeing a youthful Chinese girl who worked at the new massage parlor. With him dead, Abby once again turns her attention to the new business and can't help but ask all kinds of uncomfortable questions of all kinds of people.
Kate Collins does a splended job of crafting an Abby Knight you wlil want to get emotionally attached to. You just can't help it. She means well with her interfering, and you can see easily that her heart is right. She can't help herself, and solving mysteries is something she is proving herself capable of.
In book 2 of the series, Abby notices there is a new business in town. It seems to be a strange place, since its sign doesn't give much information about it. She assumes it's some kind of massage parlor. But she has no way of really knowing for sure until she hears some gossip about it at the local diner.
The massage parlor is mostly a low priority for Abby for now. She has to get through her horrifically high-maintenance cousin's wedding. The woman has abandoned several weddings previous to this, and Abby needs this one to happen, since she has already invested her money in flowers designed to decorate the ceremony. If it doesn't happen, Abby's investment goes bad, and she can't afford that.
And it looks like the wedding will be canceled Someone murders one of the groomsmen, and rumor had it he had been seeing a youthful Chinese girl who worked at the new massage parlor. With him dead, Abby once again turns her attention to the new business and can't help but ask all kinds of uncomfortable questions of all kinds of people.
Kate Collins does a splended job of crafting an Abby Knight you wlil want to get emotionally attached to. You just can't help it. She means well with her interfering, and you can see easily that her heart is right. She can't help herself, and solving mysteries is something she is proving herself capable of.
October 26, 2024
Abby's flower shop, Bloomers, is flourishing, thanks in part to a large order to provide the flowers for her cousin Jillian's wedding. However, when one of the groomsmen disappears and another is found murdered, the wedding may not happen. Jillian begs Abby to look into the crime and Abby reluctantly agrees, even though she promised not to meddle again after nearly getting killed once before. In addition to investigating the murder, Abby also finds herself embroiled in the drama of a new massage parlor in town that some people claim is a front for prostitution. Local bar owner, Marco, warns her to keep her nose out of it, and even Abby's employees are telling her to let it go. Abby, however, is like a dog with a bone. She is determined to salvage Jillian's marriage and prove that something hinky is going on at the Emperor Spa.
I've read a couple other books in this series, and I can't help but think this woman is dumber than a box of rocks. Not just dumb, but foolish and foolhardy. The chances she took to snoop into things that really did not concern her were outrageous. Jillian is a self-centered twit, and Abby's mother is a dingbat of the first order. Good grief. Bitching aside, the plot was interesting, although the bulk of it was consumed with Abby's investigation(s). I'd like to see more of her living life. There was plenty of humor in the story, and a budding (hah!) romance between Abby and Marco.
Abby is aggravating, but the humor salvaged what would have been a 2-star review and bumps it up to a three.
I've read a couple other books in this series, and I can't help but think this woman is dumber than a box of rocks. Not just dumb, but foolish and foolhardy. The chances she took to snoop into things that really did not concern her were outrageous. Jillian is a self-centered twit, and Abby's mother is a dingbat of the first order. Good grief. Bitching aside, the plot was interesting, although the bulk of it was consumed with Abby's investigation(s). I'd like to see more of her living life. There was plenty of humor in the story, and a budding (hah!) romance between Abby and Marco.
Abby is aggravating, but the humor salvaged what would have been a 2-star review and bumps it up to a three.
August 3, 2018
This is book 1 of the Flower Shop Mysteries... a series of secular mysteries.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly and look forward to reading the others in the series.
Abby Knight enjoys driving her vintage yellow 'Vette, working in her flower shop (Bloomers) and meddling! Her friends have tried to reform her, but they have given up. Abby is a meddler at heart and will be until the day she dies. Which could be sooner than later if she isn't careful!
Slay It With Flowers mixes together an upcoming wedding (not Abby's).... a budding romance.... a missing groomsman... a dead groomsman (not the same as the missing one!)...mysterious happenings at the new "massage" parlor... Chinese ladies sneaking in and out of the parlor and a local restaurant... odd sculpted creations by Abby's mother... and a hunky bar owner determined to keep Abby close.
This is a fun to read mystery that doesn't tax your brain, but does tickle your funny bone and warm your heart.
December 3, 2020
In this second book about Abby Knight and flower shop, Bloomers, the plot works better than in the first book since most of the primary characters have already been introduced and developed. Abby's cousin, Jillian, is planning her wedding; determined to have a spectacular event. While Abby is happy to be doing the flowers, she is not so thrilled the the activities she is expected to attend as a bridesmaid. When one of the groomsmen is found dead in a local park, a second groomsman is accused of murder. Jillian begs Abby to investigate and try to find proof of his innocence. At the same time, Abby gets convinced to look into the activities of a suspicious massage parlor located next to her hairdresser's shop. Despite warnings from friends and family, Abby gets herself into trouble.
April 5, 2021
I decided to choose another category, to continue this series. This book was a little more mysterious and intense than the first one. It has more focus on the cat, too, which I liked.
I was a bit surprised the writer sometimes chose to use "oriental" sometimes to describe people, when it wasn't pc when it was written, and it isn't now. There is also some stereotyping in this book as well. I still want to read the rest of the series, but I am feeling a bit hesitant, now. I did like book #8 last year though, so, we will see.
The narrator for this book was the same for the first book and she continued to do well with the characters.
Book Reading Challenge 2021 - Listen to an audio book.
I was a bit surprised the writer sometimes chose to use "oriental" sometimes to describe people, when it wasn't pc when it was written, and it isn't now. There is also some stereotyping in this book as well. I still want to read the rest of the series, but I am feeling a bit hesitant, now. I did like book #8 last year though, so, we will see.
The narrator for this book was the same for the first book and she continued to do well with the characters.
Book Reading Challenge 2021 - Listen to an audio book.
June 2, 2018
This is a really excellent cozy mystery with an excellent voice. I LOVE abby and I laughed out loud a few times. The mysteries kept me guessing and her family dynamics were great. I laughed out loud a few times. I didn’t love that the book seemed kind of casually racist. There are several character playing basically racial stereotypes and several accents written in a kind of degrading way. One subplot revolved around a Spa run by a Chinese man, which the main character concludes is a prostitution ring... not great.
March 4, 2019
loved it so much couldn't put the book down
I couldn't put it down I didn't want to take a break and i wanted to quickly go to Chapters to buy the remainder of this series. I love it that much. It's another Aurora Teagarden!!!
Abby is not only a bridesmaid for her cousin but also the florist and now the go-to mystery solver. Her cup runnith over all for her family ofcourse because a groomsman goes missing and another one found dead. God forbid Jillian's wedding has any hiccups the show must go on so Abby agrees. A MUST read
I couldn't put it down I didn't want to take a break and i wanted to quickly go to Chapters to buy the remainder of this series. I love it that much. It's another Aurora Teagarden!!!
Abby is not only a bridesmaid for her cousin but also the florist and now the go-to mystery solver. Her cup runnith over all for her family ofcourse because a groomsman goes missing and another one found dead. God forbid Jillian's wedding has any hiccups the show must go on so Abby agrees. A MUST read
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